What is your name/pen name/ name you are comfortable giving us?
Quinn (I haven’t decided what I want my pen name to be).
What project or projects, if any, are you currently working on?
I have a handful of different projects I toggle between. I have like 5ish WIP novels and a poetry book I’m slowly compiling. Most of my novels are fantasy/sci-fi, I think one or two of them might fall more in the realm of general fiction.
What project or projects, if any, are on your back burner?
I have a couple novels I’ve started working on but shelved for the moment. I have an intricate high fantasy world that I’ll poke around at from time to time, but I want to get through some of my other large writing projects, or at the very least one of them, before I start working on that world seriously. I’m very excited about it because I’m building the world from scratch, and writing at least the outlines of languages for it, but I want to be able to practice my writing overall more before diving into the bulk of the story.
Why do you write?
Right now, I mostly write for myself. Ever since I was little I’ve had so many worlds inside my head, and it’s enjoyable for me to be able to get them down on paper. One day, hopefully, I’ll be able to get something published, but for now, writing for my own enjoyment when I can is enough.
How long have you been writing? How much of that time seriously? (You define what seriously means.)
I’ve been writing since I was about 8 years old, and have had the dream of publishing since about then as well. As far as writing seriously, it really depends on the season of my life. I’m a very busy person, so it’s hard to carve out consistent blocks of time to really commit to writing, but I’d say I really got into trying to work on some of my novels when I was in highschool, so I’ve been pretty serious about writing as a hobby at least since then.
Do you have any published works?
I wish, but no. Ideally, I’m trying to refine my poetry book to hopefully have it ready for publishing by next year.
What is the best part of writing for you?
I love getting lost in it. When I’m writing, it’s like I’m in my worlds with my characters, and it almost feels like I become them for a little while. It’s a great escape from the clutter that everyday life can be sometimes.
What is the hardest part of writing to you?
The hardest part of writing for me is endings. I’ve always hated endings. I’ve been known to not watch the last season or episode of a TV show simply because I don’t want it to end. As I’m writing, I’m constantly changing where I want the story to end up, and when I’ve written short stories I often conclude them in an open-ended way. When I’m working on my novels, I’m always scheming in the back of my brain for sequels.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
To be honest, my motivation to write is inversely tied to how busy my schedule is. I get writer’s block most when my brain is already overloaded with a million other things. I try my best to schedule writing time for myself when things slow down, and when I’m not in school. It’s hard for me to want to write for fun when I’m also expected to write for jobs or academia.
Have you ever seen the sun set over the ocean? (We’re Pen & Pier, we have to include the Pier somewhere.)
Yes, many times, I grew up by the ocean. Now I live by a lake, and I get to watch it set here too!
How did you find Pen & Pier?
I was born and raised in SLO county, and used to attend meetings in town when I could. Now I’m trying to keep up engaging where I can since I’ve moved to Chicago.
What is your favorite genre to write? What is your favorite genre to read?
My favorite genres to read and write are one in the same, I’m a huge scifi and fantasy nerd. I love fiction in general too, but any immersive world that gets me out of my own head is what I’m always looking for in written works.
If you could collaborate with any writer, who would that be?
Honestly, I don’t know if I have an answer to that question at the moment, but I will say I’m always trying to convince my friends to co-write novels with me. I love the idea of co-authorship because finding someone who has a complementary skillset I think could make an awesome project. I’ve just never had anyone take me up on it seriously.
Would you like to live in your own stories? Why, or why not?
In a lot of ways I have lived my own stories. Not in the worlds themselves, but a lot of my characters embody traits that are a part of who I am as well. That’s why I have a difficult time sharing my writing for critique, because my characters feel very personal and close to my heart. Each of my stories is like dialogging with a different chapter in my own life’s journey.
Do you have a favorite joke? (You can tell us, but you don’t have to.)
Not specifically, I think I deal mostly in puns, sarcasm, and dry humor.
What book(s) or stories would you want everyone to read? The one(s) that keep you going all night, if someone asks about them.
Oh I have so many. Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is one I would highly recommend, it’s a Pretty Little Liars-esqe YA novel that follows two kids trying desperately to survive private school. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is a fantastic no holds barred sci-fi/fantasy novel rooted in Chinese history and mythology. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White as well is a YA horror novel about living with identities during the Victorian era that were neither recognized nor accepted. I could go on and on, I absolutely love talking about my favorite books, but I’ll leave it at these three.
What are you looking forward to the most for your writing within the next year?
I’m mostly just looking forward to continuing plugging away at my projects when I can. I don’t really have a set plan or timeline with any of my novels at the moment, so I mostly just look forward to having the time to engage with something I truly enjoy doing.
If you would like, share your sites and socials here.
I don’t really have an internet presence, I barely have social media right now. Discord is the easiest way to reach me @dalek_caan